Trip Overview

Travel to Spain with AdventureWomen for a nine-day hiking trip on the Sanabrés Route in Galicia, a portion of the historic Camino de Santiago route walked by centuries of pilgrims. Travel over ancient bridges, visit local churches and monasteries, then relax in thermal baths with spa treatments and enjoy the warm hospitality of northwestern Spain.

Join AdventureWomen on this iconic hike on the Camino de Santiago alongside other intrepid women who share your interest in exploring this storied part of pastoral Galicia, a walk made richer by hiking together.  As you travel the Sanabrés Route, also known as the Mozárabe Route, you’ll cover an average of eight miles a day as you watch for symbols and relics left by 800 centuries of the passing faithful. Since the 1st century AD, spiritual pilgrims have humbly walked the Camino de Santiago to reach the tomb of the Apostle James resting under the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and they were cared for along the Way by compassionate locals. This trail continues to attract millions, and residents still offer hospitality to those making the long trek across Spain.

Porto

Meet your fellow AdventureWomen travelers in Porto for a lively welcome dinner and share stories to learn about why each of you is excited to walk the Camino. Get to know your local guide versed in the history, culture, and cuisine of this sacred region. You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

Ourense, The “Thermal City”

Begin in the “thermal city” of Ourense, where a bathing suit is as important as boots. Ourense is best known for its thermal baths, heated Mino River, and pure drinking water pouring from stone fountains. Pick up a pilgrim’s pass, Credencial del Peregrino, in Ourense and make sure to have it stamped along the Way. Enjoy comfortable lodging and a luxuriating dip in the As Burga and Outariz Burga thermal baths, then strike out over ancient cobblestones, rocky trails, and occasional asphalt to Tamallancos, a funky mix of centuries-old stone and modern buildings. Here, the hosts at your comfortable guest home will follow tradition in the morning by ensuring that each AdventureWomen traveler has enough delicious food and plenty of water for the day. On your way to Cea, you’ll cross the 13th century stone Sobreira Bridge of Sobreira over the Barbatino River and continue the hamlet of Faramontaos. The bread of Cea is the only bread of Spain to receive a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Union. Be sure to visit a bakery to learn about the bread-making tradition with recipes that have been passed down since the 13th century. Visit Dozon, a truly charming farming village where you can indulge your trail-tested body with a well-earned massage or body wrap!

The next day, muscles loosened and energies restored, cross Silleda Ponte, a colossal moss-crowned bridge, into fragrant woodlands of eucalyptus and past thriving farms to reach Silleda, soaking in the reverent feeling as you walk the Way.

Refuel with Bandeira’s famous empanadas, stop to contemplate Pico Sacro, Galicia’s most sacred mountain, then continue past many small churches, villages, and hamlets to reach Ulla. Here you’ll get your Camino de Santiago credentials stamped as a “Hiker of the Way”! End your day with a dunk in the waterfall and swimming pool near the elegant 18th-century country home near Lestedo where you’ll spend the night.

From Lestedo, it’s just eight miles more to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Get your Camino de Santiago pilgrim’s certificate first, then tour Santiago before a fantastic farewell dinner. You each may have had a different reason for hiking the Way, but everyone can agree that walking Camino Sanabrés together made this special experience one for the ages!

Main Attractions

  • Hike the less-traveled Sanabrés Way on the famous Camino de Santiago during a holy year
  • Enjoy spectacular woodlands while you walk this ancient pilgrimage path
  • Soak in natural thermal pools & enjoy spa treatments along your hike
  • Indulge in the delicious local Spanish food in Galicia
  • Earn your pilgrim’s certificate after successfully reaching the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela 

What You'll See and Do

  • Anthropology
  • Architecture
  • Cooking Class
  • Cultural Exploration
  • Hiking
  • Historical Sites
  • Hot Springs
  • Local Delicacies
  • Spa Element
  • Walking
  • Wine Tasting
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If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
Browse Detailed Itinerary

Download Extended Itinerary

Browse Detailed Itinerary

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Porto

Welcome to Portugal and Spain! Travel over ancient bridges, visit local churches and monasteries, then relax in thermal baths with spa treatments and enjoy the warm hospitality of northwestern Spain. During your adventure, you’ll get to know your expert local guide versed in the history, culture, and cuisine of this sacred region. You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

Arrive in Porto, Portugal (OPO) before 12:00pm. One group transfer is included (time TBD); private transfers at other times are available for an additional fee. If you’d like to come in early, we can extend your stay at your hotel, but these hotels fill up early, so please ask us as soon as you can!

You will be met at the Porto Airport and transferred to your hotel.

After settling into your hotel and enjoying a welcome drink with the group, head out for a visit to the Ferreira Bodega, a Port winery founded in 1751. The tour has won awards as one of the best winery tours in the world. Enjoy the tastings!

Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner as you get to know your fellow travelers this evening. Share stories and learn about why each woman in your trip is excited to walk the Camino!

Dinner

Overnight: Carris Hotel Porto Ribeira

Day 2

Porto to the Sanabrés Way

Take the morning to explore the city of Porto on your own. Take your time to discover the city’s hidden gems, such as its train station, the Lello library, and its Cathedral.

Enjoy a light meal on your own in Porto or buy something to eat in transit to your hotel in Ourense. On arrival, you will have the option to visit the hot springs and enjoy a soak in the thermal baths.

Head to the Cathedral of Ourense, a 12th century Roman Catholic Church dedicated to San Martiño for the Pilgrim Mass. Receive your first stamp of the Camino!

You’re in Spain, so head out for a special dinner at 9:00 pm!

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Barcelo

Day 3

The Sanabrés Way

If you didn’t get your first stamp last night, be sure to get it from the hotel before you leave. You need the stamp to get your Compostela, the Certificate of Achievement, upon arrival in Santiago.

Drive to the outskirts of Ourense where you’ll start your hike. There are two routes today, but you will take the slightly longer one to Tamallancos, as it avoids a difficult climb on asphalt. Stop for lunch on your around Viduedo.

On the way to Cea, you’ll pass the 13th-century bridge of Sobreira over the Barbatiño River and continue to the hamlet of Faramontaos. Arrive in Cea this afternoon, a small village that is famous across Spain for its bread!

The bread of Cea is the only bread of Spain to receive a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Union. The bread can only be made using flour, water, salt, and yeast in wood-fired stone ovens. Visit one of these bakeries to learn about the bread-making tradition with recipes that have been passed down since the 13th century.

Drive 20 minutes back to Ourense where you’ll have some free time before dinner this evening.

Today’s Hike: 12.5 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Barcelo

Day 4

The Sanabrés Way

Depart your hotel and drive about 20 minutes to where you will start today’s hike. Walk for about three hours and arrive at the Monastery of Oseira, where you will enjoy a guided tour with one of the few resident monks who live at this 12th-century Trappist monastery dedicated to the pilgrimage to Santiago.

Within the monastery there is a recreation of the old chemist with a collection of the original jars of porcelain and utensils; this room also displays a portrait of Hildegard von Bingen, acknowledging the importance of the woman who founded scientific natural history in Germany. Learn about her work and how it was used in the monastery at the time.

Enjoy lunch on your own before continuing your hike. Continue on for about six miles through forests toward Castro Dozón. There will be more ups and downs in this section.

Today’s Hike: 12 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Pazo de Bendoiro

Day 5

The Sanabrés Way

Drive from your hotel back to Castro Dozón in the morning, where you’ll start your hike through farmlands and walk past several medieval hamlets. The beautiful oak woods of the interior of Galicia greet you as you enjoy walking the rolling hills. There will be a few small climbs, but most of the path is downhill.

Enjoy lunch on your own by the Lalin train station about four miles before A Laxe.

Drive back to your hotel in Pontevedra for the evening.

Take some time this evening to learn to cook some regional specialties with your new AdventureWomen friends. After you try your hand with local recipes, enjoy what you’ve cooked as a group for dinner!

Today’s Hike: 12 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Pazo de Bendoiro

Day 6

The Sanabrés Way

Today, our pleasant walk through woodlands, farmland, small villages and across the quaint Ponte Taboada, which has witnessed the passage of pilgrims for over 1000 years. There are different options for lunch in on your own Silleda. After lunch, the walk to Bandeira is easy and mostly downhill.

After some relaxation time, enjoy dinner with your group before getting a good night’s sleep.

Today’s Hike: 11 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Pazo de Bendoiro

Day 7

The Sanabrés Way

As you approach Santiago de Compostela, enjoy a pleasant walk along a beautiful path, taking in views of successive crosses, bridges, and chapels. Pass the church of San Miguel de Castro, an impressive railway bridge, and walk by the hamlets of Noveledo and Hundían. There will be a sharp descent into Ponte Ulla.

Have lunch on your own in Ponte Ulla. End today’s walk at the foot of the great mountain, Pico Sacro. You’ll be driven up to the top where you can enjoy spectacular views of the countryside. Learn about some of the legends of Queen Lupa, the Dragon that transformed into this great mountain.

Enjoy free time at your hotel until dinner this evening.

Today’s Hike: 14 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Pazo de Bendoiro Hotel

Day 8

The Sanabrés Way to Santiago de Comopostela

This is it! Only nine miles separate you from your goal – the resting place of the Apostle of Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Walk past the hamlets of Ardariz and Rubial before entering Marrozos, the first village in the council of Santiago. You’ll notice the City of Culture on the top of Mount Gaiás, an extravagant architectural and cultural project that includes a huge library and museum themed around the Camino. Join the Camino Real de Angrois and enter the Santiago neighborhood of Sar.

You’ll get your first glimpse of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela as you enter the historic center of Santiago through the Porta de Mazarelos, the only original remaining door to the medieval walled city. Reach the Plaza del Obradoiro where the Cathedral will present itself to you, in all its splendor after many years of restoration works, majestic and beautiful. Take a breath and pause – you’ve made it!

Enjoy a farewell dinner where you will get your Compostela, or Certificate of Achievement of the Camino de Santiago, given by the Pilgrim Office and we will toast the end of a spectacular adventure. We’re sure that the Camino has helped you find what you were looking for, or that you have found something unexpected along the way!

Today’s Hike: 9 miles

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Compostela

Day 9

Depart Spain

Enjoy one last morning in Santiago before heading home.

Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home. One group transfer is included; private transfers at other times can be arranged for an additional fee.

If you’d like to stay longer in Santiago, we can try to extend your hotel reservation, but please do not wait. 2022 is a Holy Year, and the hotels will fill up extremely early.

Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants. 

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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Traveling to Spain



Arrival and Departure Information

September 13, 2024 Departure:

Arrive: Arrive in Porto, Portugal (OPO) on September 13, 2024 before 12:00pm.

Depart: Depart Santiago de Compostela, Spain (SCQ) on September 21, 2024 any time.

We are happy to help you make your flight and travel arrangements. If you’d like to do anything prior to or following the AdventureWomen trip, we’d be delighted to help you arrange any trip extensions you’re interested in.

Note: The recent trend in travel is for travelers to finalize their plans much closer to departure time than was customary in the past. While we try to be as flexible as possible booking last-minute registrants, we must release hotel rooms two to three months prior to departure! Please keep this in mind when making your travel plans.

Preparation and Packing  

Please use the following guides as a reference when preparing for your adventure. We also encourage you to adapt the guides to your travel style as well as the destination’s forecasted weather.  

Gratuities  

Gratuities are a personal decision and are at your own discretion based on your level of satisfaction with the service provided. Gratuities are dependent upon the number of guests on your departure, and they vary greatly from trip to trip. As a general reference, AdventureWomen suggests you plan for $250-$275 (or more) worth of gratuities for this adventure. Specific tipping recommendations for your trip will be provided to you closer to your departure date and may fluctuate due to inflation, exchange rates, and the number of travelers on your trip. 

Passports and Visas

Citizens of the United States must have a passport valid for six months beyond your travel dates with at least two blank facing pages. If you do not have a passport, please apply now!

Activity Level

We rate this trip as High Energy. Our High Energy adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing. Please note that this is a general description of what you might encounter; for specific details about your trip, please consult the itinerary.

We recommend training before your trip (with your doctor’s permission) to make the most of your adventure. With this itinerary in mind, we have a partnership with Trailblazer Wellness, a woman-owned, women-run company that will design an individualized fitness plan just for you! Best of all, AdventureWomen guests get a 10% discount with the code AVW. Learn more on the Trailblazer Wellness website.

Health Considerations

Make an appointment with a travel clinic. There are no immunization requirements for travel to Portugal or Spain, however your local travel clinic may have recommendations for you based on your age, health, and past vaccination history.

For more health information, go to www.cdc.gov/travel and navigate to the pages about Portugal and Spain.

How to Register

Call the AdventureWomen office at (800) 804-8686 to determine space availability and register for this trip. We can complete your registration, including taking your credit card deposit over the phone.

If you prefer, you can register online by clicking “Sign Up for this Trip” on the trip page.

Please be sure to read the AdventureWomen policies before registering!

Forms and Final Payment

The deposit for this trip is $800 and is nonrefundable and nontransferable. Once you book, you will need to fill out and return to AdventureWomen:

  • Information Form
  • Booking Conditions Form
  • Copy of Flight Information
  • Copy of Issuing Page of Passport (Photo Page)
  • Supplemental Release for COVID

Final payment is due to AdventureWomen in a cash form (check, money order, or wire transfer). A maximum of $1,500 per person can be put on a credit card, which includes your deposit.

September 13, 2024 Departure Final Payment Due Date: December 12, 2024

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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What's Included

Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • All ground transportation
  • One group transfer on arrival and departure
  • Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
  • Fully-guided sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary
  • English-speaking hiking guide throughout the trip
  • Drinking water to refill personal bottles
  • Gratuities for baggage handling, waitstaff, hotel staff

Not Included

  • International airfare to Portugal and from Spain
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
Browse Detailed Itinerary

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Accommodations

Carris Hotel Porto Ribeira

This renovated historic building in the Ribeira district of Porto offers a comfortable room to begin your Camino adventure. Enjoy exploring Porto on foot from this well-located hotel.

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi available for a fee

Hotel Barcelo

This hotel is in the heart of Ourense, christened by the Romans as the “city of gold”. The streets of this Galician capital, famous for its thermal springs, reveal its fresh and modern character, evident in its extraordinary cuisine and in the warmth of its people.

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi available for a fee

Pazo de Bendoiro Hotel

Located in Bendoiro and surrounded by greenery, Pazo de Bendoiro hotel offers a garden, a terrace, and a beautiful swimming pool. Built of wood and stone, this elegant property features rustic and classic style dècor. Book a massage if you'd like!

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi available for a fee

Hotel Compostela

Hotel Compostela is in Galicia Square, union of both the old city with its historical center and the new city with its hustle and bustle. Close to the hotel you can find the Alameda, a park from which you can enjoy some of the better views of the cathedral. There is a public market nearby where you can see and purchase the best ingredients of Galician cuisine.

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi available for a fee

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
Browse Detailed Itinerary

Download Extended Itinerary